Bass thumb

ABSTRACT

A cover for the thumb of an angler includes a first panel, a second panel and an elastic band. The second panel has an inner surface adapted to contact the pad of an angler&#39;s thumb and is coupled to the first panel to define a pocket adapted to receive an angler&#39;s thumb. The elastic band is coupled to one of the first and second panels and is positioned adjacent an outside surface of the first panel. The elastic band is adapted to reduce the size of the pocket at an axial location between the first and second knuckles of an angler&#39;s thumb. A method of making a cover for a thumb of an angler is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to equipment for fishing and, more particularly, to a cover for a fisherman's thumb.

Bass fishermen often attempt to catch as many bass as possible during their time on the water. Some fishermen are successful at this task and catch many fish throughout the day. After a bass has been hooked by a lure, the fisherman typically reels in the fish to a location adjacent the boat. The fisherman may now place his thumb within the mouth of the bass and grasp the lower lip of the fish by pinching the lower lip between the thumb and the forefinger. This process is known as “lipping” the bass. While the bass is lipped with one of the fisherman's hands, the fisherman uses his free hand to remove the hook from the bass. Depending on the size of the hooked fish, an angler may lip the fish to lift it from the water into the boat. The hook may be removed while the fish is in the boat.

Even though catching many bass in one day may provide enjoyment to the angler, the process of lipping the bass may cause irritation on the pad of the thumb of the fisherman due to repeatedly grasping the rasp-like cartilage structure of the fish's mouth. Furthermore, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a grip on the lower lip if the bass attempts to dislodge from the grip.

Another concern exists when attempting to remove the lure from the fish. The angler risks puncturing his own thumb while attempting to maintain a grip on the fish's lower lip while removing the hook. Accordingly, a need exists for fishing equipment to improve the safety and enjoyment of a bass fishing experience.

SUMMARY

A cover for the thumb of an angler includes a first panel, a second panel and an elastic band. The second panel has an inner surface adapted to contact the pad of an angler's thumb and is coupled to the first panel to define a pocket adapted to receive an angler's thumb. The elastic band is coupled to one of the first and second panels and is positioned adjacent an outside surface of the first panel. The elastic band is adapted to reduce the size of the pocket at an axial location between the first and second knuckles of an angler's thumb.

Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a method of making a cover for a thumb of an angler. The cover includes a first panel, a second panel and an elastic band. The method includes sizing the second panel to be longer in length than the first panel, coupling edge portions of the first panel to edge portions of the second panel to define a pocket and coupling the elastic band to one of the first and second panels to locally constrict a portion of the pocket.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thumb cover of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view depicting an exemplary angler having a thumb cover of the present disclosure positioned on his thumb while lipping an exemplary bass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

FIG. 1 depicts a thumb cover 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. Thumb cover 10 includes a first panel 12, a second panel 14 and a band 16 interconnected to one another. First panel 12 may be constructed from a neoprene material. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, first panel 12 has a thickness of approximately 2mm. The neoprene material is flexible and durable. Furthermore, the neoprene material is constructed to undergo substantial elongation during use and return to its original undeformed state after a load has been removed from the material. Accordingly, first panel 12 stretches and conforms to the size and shape of an angler's thumb during use of thumb cover 10.

First panel 12 includes an outer surface 18, an inner surface 20, a first edge 22, a second edge 24, a third edge 26, and a fourth edge 28. First edge 22 is substantially linearly-shaped and positioned substantially parallel to linearly-shaped third edge 26. Second edge 24 extends substantially linearly between a first end of first edge 22 and a first end of third edge 26. Fourth edge 28 is arcuately shaped and interconnects the opposite ends of first edge 22 and third edge 26. While described independently, the first edge 22, second edge 24, third edge 26, and fourth edge 28 are continuous.

Second panel 14 is constructed from a material that is resistant to puncturing and abrasion such as garment split suede and has an inner surface 40 and an outer surface 42. Second panel 14 also includes a first edge 44, a second edge 46, a third edge 48, and a fourth edge 50. In similar fashion to first panel 12, first edge 44 of second panel 14 is substantially linearly-shaped and extends substantially parallel to a linearly-shaped third edge 48. Fourth edge 50 is arcuately shaped to interconnect ends of first edge 44 and third edge 48. Second panel 14 includes a tab portion 52 defined by second edge 46. Tab portion 52 axially extends beyond second edge 24 of first panel 12. Second edge 46 arcuately extends from first edge 44 to third edge 48.

Band 16 is substantially rectangularly shaped having an outer surface 60 and an inner surface 62. Band 16 also includes a first edge 64, a second edge 66, a third edge 68 and a fourth edge 70. Band 16 is constructed from an elastic material. This material allows substantial elongation without rupture when under load. Furthermore, band 16 has a tendency to return to its original undeformed state once a load is removed from band 16.

To construct thumb cover 10 from the three components previously described, first edge 22 of first panel 12 is aligned and connected with first edge 44 of second panel 14 and first edge 64 of band 16. Third edge 26, third edge 48 and third edge 68 are also aligned and connected with one another. Fourth edge 28 of first panel 12 is aligned and connected with fourth edge 50 of second panel 14. Fourth edge 70 of band 16 is axially offset from fourth edge 28 and fourth edge 50 a sufficient distance that band 16 applies a clamping load around an angler's thumb at a location between the first and second knuckles. Outer surface 18 of first panel 12 engages outer surface 42 of second panel 14 except where band 16 is present. Outer surface 42 of second panel 14 engages outer surface 60 of band 16 and inner surface 62 of band 16 engages outer surface 18 of first panel 12 where band 16 is present. To connect the components as previously presented, a continuous, uninterrupted stitch 74 extends through each of first panel 12, second panel 14 and band 16 to define thumb cover 10. More specifically, stitch 74 interconnects edge portions of first panel 12, second panel 14 and band 16 that are located near first edge 22, first edge 44, first edge 64, fourth edge 28, fourth edge 50, third edge 26, third edge 48 and third edge 68.

A pocket 76 having a closed end 78 and an open end 80 is defined by inner surface 20 of first panel 12 and inner surface 40 of second panel 14. Pocket 76 includes a longitudinal axis 82 extending from closed end 78 to open end 80. Band 16 is positioned at a location axially offset more than halfway from closed end 78 to open end 80. Tab portion 52 extends along axis 82 beyond the edge of pocket 76. After the stitching operation has been completed, a fold 84 is formed in first panel 12 because first panel 12 is formed incrementally larger in width than second panel 14 where the width is defined as the distance between the first and third edges of the first and second panels 12 and 14, respectively. Fold 84 is further defined due to the presence of band 16 exerting a load on first panel 12. A load is present because the distance between first edge 64 and third edge 68 is less than the width of first panel 12.

In operation, an angler having an exemplary hand 100 inserts the tip of one of his thumbs 101 into pocket 76. Thumb 101 includes a first knuckle 102 and a second knuckle 103. To fully seat thumb 101 within pocket 76 and properly position thumb cover 10 on angler's hand 100, the angler uses his opposite hand to grasp tab portion 52 and pull thumb cover 10 up thumb 101 to position a tip 104 of the thumb proximate closed end 78. At this time, band 16 should be positioned between the first and second knuckles of thumb 101. Due to the presence of fold 84, sufficient material exists to allow thumb 101 to enter pocket 76. Furthermore, first panel 12 is constructed from neoprene that allows additional elongation of the material if required.

Once thumb cover 10 is positioned on the anger's thumb as previously described, band 16 functions to retain thumb cover 10 in this location by locally reducing the size of pocket 76 at the position between the first and second knuckles of the angler. It is contemplated that a fisherman may wear thumb cover 10 throughout the day without concern for the cover becoming inadvertently separated from the angler's thumb. To remove thumb cover 10 from one's thumb, closed end 78 may be firmly grasped with the angler's other hand. An axial force is applied with the angler's other hand to cause band 16 to elongate and axially pass by first knuckle 102 of thumb 101.

FIG. 3 depicts thumb cover 10 in use where outer surface 42 of second panel 14 is positioned within a mouth opening 105 of an exemplary bass 106. A forefinger 108 of hand 100 is used to pinch a lower lip 110 of bass 106 against outer surface 42 of second panel 14. A thumb pad 112 of thumb 101 is in contact with inner surface 40 to provide a reaction to the pinching force applied by forefinger 108. The suede material provides an excellent grip within mouth opening 105 of bass 106 such that relative movement between thumb cover 10 and bass 106 is resisted. In addition, second panel 14 is sufficiently resistant to puncture from the abrasive surface in the mouth of the bass to minimize abrasion on thumb pad 112.

While the angler restrains bass 106 as previously mentioned, the free hand of the angler is used to remove a fishing lure (not shown) from bass 106. The second panel 14 is constructed from a material resistant to puncture from inadvertent contact from the lure. Fishing enjoyment is enhanced by an increased confidence that bass 106 will not slip from the angler's grip nor will the angler's thumb be irritated by repeated contact with the abrasive surface of the bass's mouth.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without department from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A cover for the thumb of an angler, the cover comprising: a neoprene panel; a suede panel having an inner surface adapted to contact a pad of an anglers thumb and a tab extending beyond an edge of the neoprene panel, the neoprene panel being sewn to the suede panel with an uninterrupted stitch extending along a majority of a perimeter of the neoprene and suede panels to define a pocket adapted to receive the angler's thumb; and an elastic band coupled to one of the neoprene and suede panels, the elastic band being positioned adjacent an outside surface of the neoprene panel, the elastic band being adapted to reduce the size of the pocket at an axial location between the first and second knuckles of an anglers thumb.
 22. The cover of claim 21 wherein the elastic band is transversely oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the pocket and positioned axially offset from a closed end of the pocket more than one half of the length of the pocket
 23. The cover of claim 22 wherein the tab extends along the longitudinal axis.
 24. The cover of claim 21 wherein the neoprene panel includes a fold adapted to open upon insertion of the angler's thumb within the pocket.
 25. The cover of claim 21 wherein the neoprene panel is adapted to elastically deform and conform to the shape of the anglers thumb when inserted within the pocket.
 26. A method of making a cover for a thumb of an angler, the cover including a neoprene panel, a suede panel and an elastic band, the method comprising: sizing the suede panel to be longer in length than the neoprene panel to define a tab on the suede panel; coupling edge portions and one end portion of the neoprene panel to edge portions and one end portion of the suede panel with an uninterrupted stitch to define a pocket: and coupling the elastic band to one of the neoprene and suede panels to locally constrict a portion of the pocket.
 27. The method of claim 26 further including positioning the elastic band more than half way from a closed end of the pocket to an open end of the pocket.
 28. The method of claim 26 further including sizing a width of the neoprene panel, suede panel and elastic band to form a fold in the neoprene panel adapted to unfold when the angle's thumb is inserted within the pocket. 